This is an interesting announcement considering Synapse is working on it - and we know how much time and effort they put into their releases and this is a big one for them. Wonder if some folks will skip their release now and hold out for a 4k release

To clarify and to bring some light into an evident confusion: We have been asked this very Q whether the trailer (which was made in Italy well before our work had progeressed this far) contains ANY footage of the new restoration, which was made for the preservation of SUSPIRIA on behalf of the owner, VIDEA Spa, and with support of the licensee in Germany, 84 Entertainment. The answer is NO. Because the trailer had to be ready well ahead of our scheduling, older masters were used.

THIS material below, however, DOES STEM from the Final Restoration Master of the new Restoration4Preservation, which will premiere on 30 Januar - 2 Februar 2017 in Italy as 4K DCP (and in other locations) and later will be screened worldwide, to be later issued via broadcast and disc media.

The restoration done by us, which was made for preservation, also restores the Main and End titles of the English version from the original 35mm archival protection IP elements (background and overlays).

This is an interesting announcement considering Synapse is working on it - and we know how much time and effort they put into their releases and this is a big one for them. Wonder if some folks will skip their release now and hold out for a 4k release

Click to expand...

Oh they'll buy it. I think enough of us here are rather compulsive. Each of us has our weaknesses movie title wise. I really have to stop after HD though. As per other conversations here you would need a large enough of a tv to really see 4K. The Synapse release will most likely be my last and will be a stellar way to watch it for the rest of my life. Will keep my Anchor Bay 3 disc as well for the cool packaging.

Synapse did a 4k scan of the negative too didn't they? And Synapse is working directly with Technicolor. And there's nothing to the announcement that there's a sure fire UHD Blu-ray on the horizon. That'ld be the only real news, and that's hardly a given.

There's nothing radical here as 4k scans are becoming the norm. And there's nothing to suggest it will be uniquely better, like an extended print. So either they'll be so similar to be indistinguishable or so radically different there will be a clear favorite to have. And I'd be willing to bet any way you slice it Synapse comes out on top.

This has to be a blow to synapse. Horror fans will no doubt still get their release but it might of just gone from i'll pre order at what ever they ask to let's wait and see. It's been 3 years since they announced they were releasing Suspiria. Does anyone have any update on that? It can't take this long to get a movie restored can it? The window of maximum profitability is rapidly closing.

The SUSPIRIA situation was an interesting one because Technicolor Rome was literally in the process of closing their facilities when the 4K scan was made from the negative in late 2013/early 2014. When Synapse finally received the tapes in first quarter 2014, they found that two of the reels were unusable due to the data on the tapes being corrupted, so they had to be rescanned...

But the negatives were in limbo at this point due to Technicolor Rome being shut down and their inventory being shipped off to various other storage facilities. It took a while to track down where the negatives were shipped to and have the two corrupted reels rescanned. Only then after they had all the data, could Don schedule time to fly to Los Angeles to begin the actual color timing/restoration work. And then while going through the scans, they found that the negative was missing footage at various points (which will have to be recanned from another film element- hopefully Fox's IP but they haven't been given access yet), as well as having other extensive physical damage due to mistreatment/the ravages of time (including somebody at some point having literally handled the emulsion side of the negative with no gloves on, leaving their fingerprints imprinted into the film which show up as bright blue patterns covering the image).

Technicolor Rome was in the process of shutting down and the SUSPIRIA scan was one of their last open projects. They did the scan in Rome and were supposed to QC them but along the way something went wrong and two of the LTO tapes containing the data were corrupted. I know it's an amazing concept to consider, but tapes get corrupted and digital data gets lost, and Synapse are based in Detroit and the scan was done in Rome then shipped to them.

Errors happen and problems arise. Synapse was able to have the problem fixed but it took a little while, complicated more so by Technicolor Rome shutting down and their assets being shipped out to be stored at various other facilities. It happened, it was dealt with, nobody's perfect, life goes on. So be it.

Folks who've seen actual vintage I.B. Technicolor prints of SUSPIRIA have said the color scheme of the Anchor Bay/Blue Underground DVD transfer is the closest to those prints that any other video versions released thus far. Now, the sound remix- that's another story...

Don is in Los Angeles right now finalizing the SUSPIRIA color timing, after which the 4K files will be sent out for the extensive restoration and clean up, and he really sounded quite down re: the condition of the elements when I talked with him on the phone. Not about the work he and his colorist Dave are doing, mind you, but by how badly the SUSPIRIA negative has apparently been treated over the years. He really sounded depressed re: the condition of the 35mm camera original of SUSPIRIA given how "filthy" and damaged it is (i.e., dirt and fingerprints on the film emulsion ALL OVER THE PLACE, various tears in the middle of shots, etc). Really sad...

That said, luckily we have somebody who truly cares about the film behind the restoration, and the color is intact and apparently very beautiful. I have no doubt the final result will be well-worth the wait.

Their newest product catalogue says "40th Anniversary". 2017 is the 40th Anniversary. Work is progressing nicely. Files have been turned over to a trusted facility to do clean-up. Be patient, this will be well worth it.

It will be released sometime in 2017 for the 40th anniversary and will be well worth the wait. No expenses are being spared for this release and the attention to detail is meticulous in order to get it right.

I suspect that the TLEFilms restoration is being sourced from the same raw 4K scan that was provided to Synapse. I've been impressed with most of the TLEFilms restorations I've seen in the past (Fritz Lang's "M", Re-Animator, Bride of Re-Animator and Society). I was not impressed with what I've seen of their previous Suspiria restoration, but I've only seen screencaps, and not the entire presentation in motion. That restoration was also sourced from the same problematic 2K master that all previous Suspiria Blu-Rays were sourced from. The real question is going to be whether TLEFilms has enough time and budget to achieve equal or better results than Synapse's ongoing 4K restoration where "No expenses are being spared."

Well if Synapse goes with a steelbook first and hold back on a cheaper regular release than I'll likely go with this one if it's out by then. If they were responsible for the two Re-Animator films and Society restorations then I'm confident in a quality release.

...which was made for the preservation of SUSPIRIA on behalf of the owner, VIDEA Spa, and with support of the licensee in Germany, 84 Entertainment.

Click to expand...

That quote from the above post should indicate this will be released on standard Blu-ray and not a 4k disc since the Italian restoration was licensed by Germany's 84 Entertainment (Witchtrap, etc) and of course will be Region B locked. Synaspe's disc should likely still be the way to go.

Well if Synapse goes with a steelbook first and hold back on a cheaper regular release than I'll likely go with this one if it's out by then. If they were responsible for the two Re-Animator films and Society restorations then I'm confident in a quality release.

Looking at the original OCN reels and getting ready to compare to the newly restored 4K DPX files. After years of extensive cleanup (the most extensive of my 25 years in the business), we're on third base and heading for home plate.

Click to expand...

Don May said:

We at Deadpit are anxiously anticipating the long awaited 'Diamond Pod' Edition !!!!

Click to expand...

Good idea! 3000 Steelbooks, wrapped in genuine diamond dust, for only $1099 each!

Click to expand...

Don May said:

Don May said:

We at Deadpit are anxiously anticipating the long awaited 'Diamond Pod' Edition !!!!

Click to expand...

Good idea! 3000 Steelbooks, wrapped in genuine diamond dust, for only $1099 each!

Click to expand...

That actually might help us get close to breaking even on the negative restoration costs! LOL!

Click to expand...

Don May said:

I can't wait to retire my old anchor bay DVD!! Any updates on the extras?

Click to expand...

Just trying to get the film done first, Mike.

Click to expand...

Don May said:

This will be the pinnacle of home video for me. It's all downhill from here

Click to expand...

This was technically the last one on my "bucket list." Maybe I should just retire after I'm done with it.

Click to expand...

Don May said:

Maybe you should make this the first Synapse UHD disc! Lol

Click to expand...

No laughter needed. It might very well be! We're looking into it, but it all comes down to the costs involved. They are ridiculously expensive to author and replicate right now.

Click to expand...

Don May said:

HDR pass?

Click to expand...

As long as it's not destructive, Zolly. Some HDR passes I've seen on 35mm film productions have been detrimental to the image. We'll do some tests first. I hate the idea of just doing a general set "pass" that affects the image throughout on the same setting, but that's what some studios are doing with their HDR versions. A "set it and forget it" approach is not what I want to do.